FOB

Iron Age copper alloy fob or dangler, probably of 1st to early 2nd century AD date

The hanger is complete (with a length of 20.3mm and weighs 17.9g. The integral shank has a sub-circular loop at the apex (8.6mm x 4.64mm) with a circular perforation (4.1mm diameter). The loop is narrowest at its rear (3.5mm thick) and gradually widens towards the disc head. The shank is of sub-rectangular section (7.4mm x 4.3mm below the head). The sides of the loop show some signs of rubbing-wear. The disc head has open-work decoration and is near-circular (with a diameter of 44.2mm - 44.5mm). At the centre of the disc is a raised, rounded boss (5mm diameter and 1.3mm high) and a rim border around the perimeter of the disc (with a minimum width of 2.8mm). The head is decorated with an openwork threefold whirligig, triskele motif. Between each arm of the triskele and the rim border is a pelta motif, which are open at the centre. The motifs define three triangular openings, three kidney-shaped openings in addition to the centres of the pelta motifs. The triskele is thicker than both the pelta devices and the rim (with a thickness of 2.5mm compared to 1.8mm) necessitating a step to each pelta and a gradual thinning to the rim. The step is enhanced with a groove but no other applied decoration is evident on the surface. The rim has a notch flaw on its outside edge. The surface had green-brown patina with numerous linear striations across the surface and beneath the patina.

Fobs or danglers remain a poorly understood artefact type, and may have been hung from items of equipment, personal apparel or harness decoration (Jope 2000, pp 285) . Jope (ibid.) records 17 known examples of danglers and related 'hangers' from Britain, while Macgregor (1976a, pp 37) records nine know examples of Triskele-decorated fobs from Northern Britain. One recorded example (Macgregor, 1976b, pp 40) can be seen as a parallel for this piece but is without the pelta motifs and has a simple openwork triskele design, enhanced by a border of punched dots. Two examples of fobs have been recovered from excavations in Wales: a fragmentary example recovered from the hill fort of Tre'r Ceiri at Llanaelhaearn, Gwynedd and from Abergavenny, Monmouthshire (Spratling, 1968) . A similar example with a triskele but again, without the peltae was recorded from St. Nicholas in the Vale of Glamorgan . Four examples were recovered from Kingsholm in Gloucestershire (Jope 2000, pp 285, No 225a-d)1. One of the Kingsholm examples was still attached to binding, appearing to be from the corner of a casket (ibid.).

- Jope E.M., 2000, Early Celtic Art in the British Isles, in Volume I, Text
- Macgregor M., 1976, Early Celtic Art in North Britain, Volume 2
- Macgregor M., 1976, Early Celtic Art in North Britain, Volume 1

- Spratling, M.G., 1968, A Bronze Loop-Shanked Triskele Pendant from Flannel Street; in Excavations at Abergavenny 1962-1969; I. Prehistoric and Roman Finds; The Monmouthshire Antiquary 1968-1969, p. 196-198
- NMWPA 2006.39.1